Kolten Wong’s first career homer is a grand slam as Cardinals offense finally wakes, but it isn’t enough as Royals rally late

St. Louis Cardinals Kolten Wong pumps his fist after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 3, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Cardinals rookie Kolten Wong hit his first career home run and it was a grand slam that came in the second inning. The Cardinals blew a four-run lead and managed to regain the advantage until the Royals rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to pull out an 8-7 victory to grab both games at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals certainly put together more offense with seven runs on ten hits, but the club left plenty more on the bases, going just 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position. They had the bases loaded in the first inning, but Yadier Molina grounded into a double play.

They went back to work in the second, loading them up again when Wong ended the Cardinals 20-inning scoring drought with his grand slam. He is the first Cardinal to hit a grand slam for his first homer since pitcher Jake Westbrook in 2011.

Kansas City Royals Alex Gordon (4) is greeted at home plate by teammates Nori Aoki (23) and Eric Hosmer (35)after hitting a three run home run in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 3, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The four-run lead didn’t hold up as the Royals scored six runs in the fifth inning, capped by Alex Gordon’s three run shot. It was his second in as many days. The Cardinals tied it with a sac fly from Oscar Tavares and a double from Jhonny Peralta. Then went back on top in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo homer from Peter Bourjas.

That made the score 7-6, ending James Shields’ night. He went 5.1 inning with seven runs, five earned. He’s now allowed seven homers in his last three starts.

Jaime Garcia was left to try to work through his own trouble in that six-run fifth inning as Mike Matheny was handcuffed with some tired arms in the bullpen. Garcia gave up the six runs on eight hits in his five innings. He’s now gone four straight starts without allowing a walk.

In the eighth, Salvador Perez singled and pinch hitter Billy Butler reached on an infield single, before Alcides Escobar’s bloop RBI single off Pat Neshek tied it in the eighth. Eric Hosmer hit a tiebreaking single off closer Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth inning. Omar Infante doubled off Rosenthal (0-3) with one out in the ninth before Hosmer’s hit.

Wade Davis (5-1) pitched the eighth for the win and Greg Holland closed it out for his 16th save.